UK first country to introduce national RSV vaccination programme to protect newborns

The rollout, which will start from 1 September in England, includes a vaccine for pregnant women over 28 weeks to protect their newborn babies, and a programme for those over the age of 75 – the groups at the greatest risk from RSV.

The programme will be rolled out in Wales and Northern Ireland in September, and from 12 August in Scotland.

It follows campaigning by the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) for a RSV vaccination programme, which received the backing of hundreds of doctors and healthcare professionals.

According to the Department of Health and Social Care, RSV infects around 90 per cent of children within the first two years of life. It typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms, however it can lead to severe lung infections like pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis, and is a ‘leading cause’ of infant mortality globally.

Each year in the UK, the virus accounts for around 30,000 hospitalisations in children aged under five and is responsible for 20 to 30 infant deaths.

Minister for public health and prevention, Andrew Gwynne, said, ‘As someone who has seen the devastating effects of RSV firsthand. I am thrilled to see the UK leading in the way in tackling this devastating disease.

‘My own grandson contracted RSV when he was just days old, leading to weeks in intensive care, and a lifelong impact on his health. I don’t want anyone to go through what he went through.’

The RCPCH said the vaccination represents a ‘huge step forward for the child health and paediatric workforce in England and Scotland’, and has the potential to save young lives.

However, its VP for Policy, Dr Mike McKean said they are ‘seeing a worrying decline in uptake of vaccinations across many routine childhood immunisations, and as paediatricians they want to continue to ‘champion the use of vaccinations against dangerous and preventable diseases.’